The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-01-21
State Prison for Lifel
Verdict of che Jmry against John
kays and Henry Bechs!


Probably the most exciting and 70.
mnrkahle trial which has ever occurred
IL the conrss Of Duhois county was that
Of John ksvs and Henry Becht for the
murder at John u. Hart, q ooIored man
The ease was called on Wednesday al
the first week 81 The term. and the pvis
oners pleading not guilty, aud Knys
pleading poverty Ia addition. the court
appointed y. a. Ely 70 defend him. and
ses The cause for the 10th day OF the
term.
Thursisv afternoon Of Last week n
WAS sailed up and the prisoners brought
intO court. j. w. Wilson and r. ". Dil-
Ion appearing ~ ATTORNEYS for Becht AMI
Ely Cor Kavs The work Of seleciing q
Jury WAS entered upon, Sheriff Schnei-
der having subp0nHd forty citizens IN
addition to the regular panel. These
were soon exhausted, aud taleamen
from the audience WERE then pressed IN
till The following named persons were &C.
copied by roth sides A. jurymen 10 try
the cause: Warren W. Chopper, Philip
Schwenk. George Bsrth. Jac0b Hauser,
Fidelis N0rgenroth, Lawrence Harter.
John w. Jacobs. Andrew Geissler,
Adam BIessinger. Rym0nd Fehrrebach,
John Prefer, Valentine Gu,gesell.
Prosecuting Attorney Bretx made Z
snccinct statement Of the case "a the jury,
exhibiting 10 them the murderons dag
ger. called "spring dagger" with which
The dastardiy deed was committed. IL
was knife with Z single blade near
four inches long, sharp pointed, and 60
arranged that nv pressing on spring IN
the back Il could BE- thrown open with
one hand, and be an ugly weapon. Ii
was covered with the life-blood OF their
victim.
Friday morning The examination Of
witnesses began. and It was shown that
Hart. the murdered man, on the cath OIL
December last came from Princeton,
where be resided, to Hunting burg. In
company with several other colored
folks, on their way 10 spend the Christ
mas holiday with friends in Spencer
county that while waiting 1t the depot
10 Huntiugburg that night for the south
bound train, sitting il chair 10 the L.
dies waiting room. with HE head resting
on his hands, Becht rudely shook him
and told him 10 get up, and when be
rose in response TO the demand and in
guired what was wanted. Becht and
kays both struck him, and he fell to the !,
floor. stabbed in the neck on the len
tide, just below the ear. covering the
ugular vein, and bled TO death In short
lime. II vas shown that Hart had given
10 provocation Of any kind to any one.
but had acted quietly and gentlemanly,
Ind there were no circumstances Of any
Zind to mitigate the outrageous crime !,
L Was also shown that Rays aud BcchtI
lad come from Pike county that dsy.
where they were engaged 6 hands on
he railroad, and had been drinking TO. /
yether. and that Kays had bosstinely
aid: Il had to leave this town once &C. \
ore 10 hurry. and came back slow.
md, by g ID, guess | may have to leave
1 10 : hurry again tonight "We're
yolng TO do somebody mp tonight =
Watch ne and you'll see something TO-
right You never saw before;v and sim-
lar remarks. and IN : few minutes.
vhen they were striking Hart, be Gang
,ut: by G ID. we're doing Il. now m
nd then be and Becht went on TO wash
1is bloody hands, smeared with the life.
blood Of . being II We shown 4
~ several witnesses that Kays owned III
Tnife like the one found By the muir
Tered Hart, and that Becht had been 1
zen with Il In his possession But Il
gas not shown certainly which struck the
atal blow. Il vas shown that shortly \
'fter the killing Becht in : onversation
With Mr.. Moore, said that "Kays had 1
mt the Niger. and had bstter get eus.r n
,ut that he had done nothing to run for.
)ver thirty witnesses were examined By
he prosecution. and case OF malicious 1
murder Vas very clearly made out.
On Saturday the prisoners both went
~ the stand ID their own behalf. and
'sch swore he had not done the cutting.
ut 5ad struck Hart With their flsts on
y, and that they hal never seen The knife
vas done with until Is was Brought
nto court at this trial. Becht said thai
srness Dieckman. = young boy who was
nth them that night, and had been q
states witness, had struck Hart with :
hort club, and when Il new from hisl
lands, had struck again with something
Ice 10 hss hand, be couldn't zee what Il
vas. Ii
This closed the testimony, and coort
djourned Gill Monday afternoon. when
he arguments OF the attorpevs began.
bile speeches were made b. Prosecu Tor 1
Iretz for the State, and Wilson for ne
eSense on Monday and Monday night
olIowed % TUesday with Z masterIy !
rsnment BY E. 4. Ely for the defense II
'hIch i was evident n observers made
? impression on the jury, and during q
'hich Becht showed the only feeling he e
"a exhibited during the trial lie vas
allowed By Hon. J. r. Mccullough or 4
b prosecution, II an argument of rare 4
over and pesspicuisy, which held the q
'iention % noe only the jury. but I'll
'owded court room full OF Iadiea and 4
entlemen tor three hours. judge We'll (
orn followed with : written charge *. =
|aininR III the different phases Or The
- bearing on the case. aud their con.
ection with The evidences. taking nearly 4
hour for its delivery. when The jnry !
'tIred about four o'clock. They did :,
% come m An nuranmnrf All " 1txnI~ -